Google had a lot of amazing announcements today at their I/O conference. One of the new products the search giant unveiled is their Nexus Q set-top box. The device offers a great amount of features for Android users, however that benefit comes at a fairly steep cost when compared to the Apple TV.

The Nexus Q is a small, sphere that sits by your TV. It has an HDMI port, WiFi, ethernet, NFC and a Bluetooth Chip. It features streaming  from the Google Play Store, and allows users to listen to items bought from the store, at no cost. It also boasts an AirPlay-like feature that allows Android owners to beam content up to their home-theater set-up; as well as the ability for multiple people to share their music to the box. It even lets users stream HD YouTube videos to their televisions (just think of the cute kittens on our TV screen!). And all those features will cost you a cool $299.

If some of the Nexus Q’s abilities sound familiar, it’s probably because there’s already been a device like this on the market for over a year, and it’s $200 cheaper. In fact, it’s made by Apple and is one of the cheapest iOS gadgets out there. The Apple TV is also a small, streaming-only set-top box that features an HDMI port, WiFi, and ethernet port. Apple’s device also allows you to stream movies from the iTunes Store, stream purchased music (with a paid subscription) and beam content wirelessly.

So what’s the difference? Well, it’s pretty much all a matter of preference. If you’re an Android user, and you want to show all your iOS-toting friends that your phone isn’t just a toy, get the Nexus Q. Your wallet will be in a little more pain, but you’ll get awesome Android-specific features, like the ability to beam content wirelessly from your ‘droid and rent movies from Google Play, right on your cellphone.

However, if you’re an iOS user, your money would be better spent on an Apple TV. The box got updated when the new iPad came out in April, and offers features that are exactly the same as the Nexus Q. Apple is also rumored to start offering apps, further sweetening the deal.

Via: Macworld